Shawsheen Tech Candidates Q&A: Is Shawsheen Tech Transparent Enough?

(Editor's note: This is the third and final part of our Q&A series with the candidates for the Shawsheen Tech School Committee -- incumbent Patricia Meuse and challenger Rick O'Neill.)

Question 3: Does the Shawsheen Tech School Committee need to do more to ensure transparency?

Patricia Meuse

Shawsheen has one of the best high school web sites, maintained by our students daily, that provides important information about Shawsheen.  School Committee meeting agendas and minutes are published.  I encourage residents to visit the web site at www.shawsheentech.org.

Our School Committee meetings are open to the public and we hold a public hearing on our budget. Three times per year, Shawsheen publishes a magazine titled The Rambler, available on the web site and mailed to most policy leaders in our communities.  Two open houses per year are held for parents and students, and numerous press releases are provided citing the accomplishments of the students to local newspapers including the Tewksbury Patch.   Shawsheen provides three weeks of after school opportunities for 7^th grade students to explore the school during the winter months in which 200 Tewksbury students participated in 2013.

Unfortunately, my opponent in this election used his political power to remove an annual 45 minute presentation to students at the Wynn Middle School while he served on the Tewksbury School Committee.  Fortunately, the annual presentation has been reinstated improving transparency for students who seek information prior to applying for admission.

As a Tewksbury mother of six and grandparent of thirteen, I am available to answer questions and provide information about Shawsheen at most community events.

I attend all Tewksbury Town Meetings ready, willing, and able to provide information about Shawsheen and respectfully seek the opportunity to continue to do so if re-elected.  I respectfully request your vote for Patricia Meuse on April 6^th.  

Rick O'Neill

The term “transparency” is defined by Merriman-Webster as being “characterized by visibility or accessibility of information especially concerning business practices.”  There are two levels of response required in addressing this question.

Shawsheen Tech does an excellent job of informing its students and parents as to fundamental matters concerning admissions, guidance, academics, vocational programs, student activities, athletics, adult education opportunities, and alumni activities. 

Unfortunately, the Shawsheen Tech School Committee has made little effort to work collaboratively with the Partner Districts of Bedford, Billerica, Burlington, Wilmington and Tewksbury to transform today’s vocational and technical education programs. This alliance is essential to providing all our students, regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances, with the academic and technical knowledge and work-related skills needed to compete in tomorrow’s job market. Collaboration, not competition with Partnering Districts is what is needed.

The research is clear. Close interaction between educators and work force development organizations will better connect students with career opportunities. Working together harmoniously as true partners can result in obtaining greater resources, recognition and reward when facing competition for finite resources.

So what are we waiting for? The future of all our children is at risk if we do not begin to think, plan and share together. We must demand that Shawsheen Tech School Committee and the Partnering Districts work collaboratively to obtain greater success and reward while facing competition for increasingly limited resources. We must act now!

For more on the Shawsheen Tech School Committee race:

 Shawsheen Tech Candidates Q&A: Shawsheen Tech's Role In A Global Economy?

Shawsheen Tech Candidates Q&A: Shawsheen Tech's Role In A Global Economy?

2013 Tewksbury Municipal Election Guide